Education Programs

The Student Matinee Series

In September and October, APT holds 15 performances of regular-season main stage productions, performed during the school day at our beautiful outdoor theater. Teachers receive study guides to accompany the performances that include activities and resources specific to the play. Most performances are followed by discussions between students and actors. In 2008, we will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry IV: The Making of a King (combining Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2) in the Student Matinee Series.

Also, APT offers special discounts to student groups of 15 or more for select regular evening performances throughout the season.

For more information on student discounts and the Student Matinee Series, call the Box Office at (608) 588-2361 or e-mail education@americanplayers.org.

Workshops

To accompany Student Matinee performances, APT offers workshops in individual classrooms led by teams of two APT teaching artists. These 45-minute workshops introduce students to the play and use various techniques to make story, language, character and theme vivid and accessible to the students. Teachers are able to select from several workshop formats to optimize their students’ experience. A number of workshops are sponsored through grant funds and available free of charge to school groups. For more information, call the Box Office at (608) 588-2361 or e-mail education@americanplayers.org.

Residencies

In addition to the activities based around our season, APT also offers a host of other workshops and residencies available in the classroom. We offer Shakespeare and other literature-based programs, creative dramatics and general theater offerings that can be custom-designed to enrich your classroom.

Click here to download a copy of our brochure outlining all the possibilities.

APT Academy

Students age 13-17 can participate in the APT Academy, a theatre summer camp experience. This one-week program brings together a motivated group of students to participate in a wide range of theatre and camp activities, including:

Workshops led by APT acting company members along with other APT artistic and camp staff. Workshops include text work, movement, voice, audition skills and team building.
Attend all five APT theatre productions.
Work with staff directors daily as actors on a performance piece.
Take advantage of this chance to learn and become friends with others who care deeply about theatre and the arts.
Have fun with theatre games and explore some of the 500 acres of your home for the week, Bethel Horizons camp located near Dodgeville, Wisconsin.

Campers will be expected to work hard and participate fully in all sessions. The cost of the camp includes room and board at Bethel Horizons and show tickets to APT. The camp dates are Sunday, August 17 through Friday, August 22, 2008. The cost is $750.

At Bethel Horizons, located ten miles from APT, campers will stay at the beautiful Prairie Center with an experienced onsite staff. If you are interested please contact Kathy Hiteman at outreach@americanplayers.org.

The application deadline for the 2008 season has passed. Please check back in the Spring for information on next year's APT Academy.

APT/UW Drama Institute for Teachers

Teachers, join a team of educators, actors, directors, coaches and designers at American Players Theatre in Spring Green for this week-long workshop. Work with professional theatre artists to create theatre opportunities using text, movement, and emotional energy both on stage and in the classroom. Theory transforms into practicum by exploring the techniques learned in class and applying them to a performance piece. An added bonus will be attending performances of three plays during the evenings. For more information, contact Kathy Hiteman at outreach@americanplayers.org.